Mt. Hagen Show Cultural Tour to Papua New Guinea
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15-day tour to Papua New Guinea (co-ed)
Itinerary dates: August 5 – 19, 2011
Tour leader: Beth Whitman
This 15-day cultural adventure to Papua New Guinea includes the unique opportunity to witness the Mt. Hagen Singsing (cultural show) held each August. 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the festival which will surely attract a larger than usual gathering of tribes from around the country.
The tour includes an exclusive pre-show in which a small number of tribes give an intimate performance of dancing and singing in preparation for the Mt. Hagen Festival. You’ll spend the day walking among the tribes as they apply their makeup and get dressed in their traditional tribal clothing prior to performing. In short, this is a photographer’s dream.
In addition, this tour includes boating along the magnificent Sepik River in the north, where you’ll experience a homestay. The group will also visit the coastal region of Madang for snorkeling, diving, relaxing and cultural activities with the locals (including demonstrations of basket weaving and cooking).
View Beth’s Papua New Guinea Photo Gallery
The tour begins in Port Moresby on August 5. Most flights arrive from either Brisbane or Tokyo.
Itinerary
August 5, 2011
Day 1
On this first day of the tour, you will be met upon arrival at the Port Moresby Airport and transferred to your hotel. If time permits, the group will have a short tour of Port Moresby which may include the National Parliament Haus, the National Museum and the Botanical Gardens. Overnight in Port Moresby.
August 6, 2011
Day 2 (D)
After breakfast, the group will be transferred to the airport for a flight north to Wewak where we’ll be met by a local guide and transferred to our hotel. This will be the starting point for our tour of the Sepik region. Overnight in Wewak.
August 7, 2011
Day 3 (B, L, D)
On this day, we’ll enjoy an early breakfast and then drive approximately 3 hours to Pagwi in a 4-wheel drive vehicle. We will then transfer to a motorized canoe and travel to the village of Korogu. There, we will have the chance to tour the village, see artifacts on display and meet the local people. We will then proceed to Kanganamun where we will overnight at homestay.
***Note that this accommodation will be very basic and will likely consist of a mattress on the floor, a pit toilet outside and bucket showers. Food will also be basic (taro, sago and chicken) and the guesthouse may only have a hurricane lamp or electricity provided by a generator.
HIGHLIGHT! Arriving in the remote Sepik area is going to be a highlight in and of itself. This area is inhabited by many tribes. Boating down the Sepik River, we’ll have a chance to see many of these tribes who continue to live traditional lifestyles.
August 8, 2011
Day 4 (B, L, D)
Today, we will spend a half day with the local people at Kanganamun Village. After lunch, we’ll continue to Yajaim Village and then to Palimbe, all while enjoying the peacefulness of the Sepik River.
Along the way, we will see a traditional singsing and also have the chance to see how the villagers make sago, carve, paint with traditional materials and weave baskets. Observing these activities will give you an insight into how these river people live their lives. Expect to see lots of wildlife and river birds that catch fish in the river. Overnight in Kanganamun Guesthouse.
HIGHLIGHT! In addition to the traditional arts and crafts still practiced, the group will visit a traditional Sepik Spirit House called a Haus Tambraun.
August 9, 2011
Day 5 (B, L, D)
Today we’ll have another early breakfast and then continue to Terence Village, Urther Maringe and Aibom Village. As we meander down the river, we may see people fishing in small dugout canoes as well as bird and wildlife (including crocodiles) along the river bank. We’ll continue along the river passing Kambige Village, where we’ll stop for a short visit before proceeding on to Cambri and Pagwi, and then on to a waiting vehicle to go back to Wewak. Overnight in Wewak.
August 10, 2011
Day 6 (B)
After breakfast, the group will head to the airport for a flight back to Port Moresby. (Flying back to POM is the only way to get to our next destination, Hagen). Upon arrival at the airport, we’ll be met by a local guide and then transferred to our lodging. If there is time, the group may be able to do some light sightseeing in Port Moresby.
August 11, 2011
Day 7 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we’ll head back to the airport for our flight to Mt. Hagen. There, we will be met by a local guide and transferred to a rustic but very comfortable lodge where, in the evening, we will witness a courting ceremony performed by a young man and woman. Overnight near Mt. Hagen.
HIGHLIGHT! On this day the group will stay outside of the city of Hagen and in the lush and tropic mountains of PNG. You’ll be welcomed by fresh air and the sight of wild flowers and vast greenery.
August 12, 2011
Day 8 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, the group will go to a small village for an exclusive Mt. Hagen pre-show. This is a private event that includes approximately 10 tribal groups. These groups will all be wearing traditional (and all very different) dress that will include plumes of bird of paradise and exotic body paintings.
In additional to this pre-show, there will be a courting ceremony, a show of traditional fighting using bows and arrows, and a traditional marriage ceremony. We’ll also tour the a Cultural Center where very old items such as skeletons and spirit stones are displayed. These are managed by the chief and his five wives.
HIGHLIGHT! This pre-show is a rare opportunity to see these tribes prepare for their singsing. You’ll see them face painting, putting on their feathers, adding body decorations and then watch the actual show in the main arena. These tribespeople are very friendly and welcome photographs. You will have a chance to watch the show close up, mingle with the dancers and take lots of photos.
August 13, 2011
Day 9 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, the group will depart for the Mt. Hagen showgrounds which is located approximately 18 miles 
from the lodge. Depending on the weather, the group will leave early enough to witness the process from the start (the tribes getting ready for the show) to finish (final dances). This will be a full day watching groups from around the country and will give you the chance to learn about the variety of traditions and cultures throughout PNG. Expect to see about 100 vastly different tribes. In the late afternoon, the group will be transferred back to our lodge where we’ll overnight.
HIGHLIGHT! This show is unequal to anything you will have ever experienced in your life. You will have a chance to walk amongst these 100 tribes where singing and dancing happen simultaneously and where the groups often try to outperform each other.
August 14, 2011
Day 10 (B, L)
After breakfast, the group will return to the Mt. Hagen showgrounds for another half day of singing and dancing by the same groups as the previous day. There will still be many things to discover on this day. In the early afternoon, we’ll head back to the lodge to relax and recover from a busy couple of festival days.
August 15, 2011
Day 11 (B)
After breakfast, we will begin our drive to Madang along the Highlands Highway. This is a beautiful drive (approximately 9 hours) and we’ll have the opportunity to see stunning and lush landscape and scenery with many opportunities to stop for photographs. Overnight in Madang.
HIGHLIGHT! Today’s highlight will be the scenery along this highway rarely used by tourists. The road will be rough and it will be slow going, but it will be well worth it.
August 16, 2011
Day 12 (B, L, D)
On this day in Madang, along PNG’s northern coast, we’ll have a chance to visit a number of local sights 
including the Madang Cultural Center and some nearby villages. We will have a chance to see these coastal tribes partaking in traditional activities such as basket weaving and cooking. Overnight in Madang.
August 17, 2011
Day 13 (B, L, D)
On this day, we’ll have time to relax and enjoy the spectacular coastline and partake in either river or ocean activities, such as snorkeling and/or diving. Overnight in Madang.
August 18, 2011
Day 14 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for our flight back to Port Moresby where we’ll overnight.
August 19, 2011
Day 15
After breakfast the group will be transferred back to the airport for flights to your international destinations.
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Interested in sharing? We do our best to pair up same-sex travelers so as to avoid the single supplement. However, priority is given to the first deposits received. If you’re interested in sharing – PLEASE send in deposit as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this benefit.
(Why a single supplement charge? See this about page for an explanation.)
Price includes: accommodation, meals as specified, air and land transportation in-country, entry into shows and local guides.
Price does not include: Flights to and from Papua New Guinea, evacuation insurance (highly recommended), purchases of personal nature such as artifacts, souvenirs, tips and beverages other than water. NOTE: Roundtrip flights from the U.S. will run approximately $1,800 – $2,100. A search on the major travel search engines will be 4 times that. We’ll connect you with our travel agent to help find the best fares.
This trip is limited to 10 people due to the limited availability of accommodations. In Mt. Hagen, participants must share a room as there are only 5 rooms available in this location. The tour requires a $1,000 deposit.
Please make payable and send check to:
WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116
For questions, please contact Beth at:
beth (at) wandertours (dot) com
888-818-9918
Deposits and full payment may also be made with a credit/debit card through PayPal. If paying through PayPal, simply send payment to: beth (at) wanderlustandlipstick (dot) com.
About Beth
Your tour leader, Beth Whitman, dreamed of traveling to Papua New Guinea for 30 years. After finally visiting the country, she was sure that there were others like her who wanted desperately to experience this unique destination but didn’t know how to get there. So, she put together this tour to help others realize their dreams of this fascinating island nation.
Beth is the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick series of guides including The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, For Women Traveling to India and is the publisher of Traveling with Kids. She is also the publisher of www.WanderlustAndLipstick.com and www.WanderTours.com
Related links:
Beth’s Papua New Guinea Photo Gallery
Photo Credit:
Sepik Art by husky
